Take-up for knitting machines



June 9, 1953 A. x. DESMONDS TAKE-UP FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 31, 1950 FIG. .5.

- INVENTOR.

ALBERT X. DESMONDS Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

TAKE-UP FOR KNITTING MACHINES Albert X. Desmonds, Laconia, N-. IL, assignor to Scott & Williams, Inc;, Lacouia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August31, 1950'; Serial-No. 1821453 (Cl.v 66--153-) 12 Claims; 1:

This invent-ion relates to knitting machines and has particular reference: to take-up means involved in the production of stockings contain ing intu-rned welts.

Individual separate stockings may beknit starting with bare needles in accordance with the procedure and utilizing such instrumentalities as aredisclosed in the patent-to R; W. Scott Nor 1,282,958, dated October 29, 1918. In accordance with this procedure, which need: not be repeated herein in detail, a. non-ravelling selvage is first produced and thereupon loops are transferred to transfer elements which hold the initial courses during the knitting of a hem or welt, there being produced in the formation or this: welt a sufficient number of courses to secure the desired: length thereon At the completion of the welt the loops which were held by the transfer elements are returned to the needles and knitting is resumed tying the welt loops into loops at. thebeginning of the leg so that: a: doubled; or. inturned welt is produced.

The; welt fold as it is; being formed and thereafter'hasi generally" been carried away from the needles v by gravity with initial assistance: bya presser such as'shown in saidisc'ottpatent The foregoing method has been satisfactory but" it has; been recognized that more uniform and perfect stitches might be formed if tension was applied. between the stitches being knitted and others previously knitted. Furthermore; more satisfactory results-i would" be obtained. if the tension could be applied through a substantial length of thefabri'c; In the patent of Alexander Belford and Fred A. Kuss, Number 2,574,009, dated November 6, 1951, there are provided suit able means for applying tension to the fabric through the: use of take-up rolls which may be caused to stop or to advance at varying speeds as: determined by control mechanism, thus to apply a uniform but. variable tension to the fabric.

In accordance with the disclosure of said Belford and Kuss application" the yarn is not taken entirely out of action between stockings but rather the regularyarn is changed in order that one or more courses of stitches may be knitted from a yarn having sufli'cient strength for knitting and providing a connection between successive stockings but frail enough to permit the various finished stockings to be torn apart or separated Accordingly itis possible to feed the continuous string of stockings at all times to: a take-up remote 'from' the point of' knitting; During; the time that the welt-or hem is being knitted such a remote take-up is incapable of exerting tensionaon the welt section of the fabric since the last course of fabric under the influence of the take-up will have been removed from the needles and held by the transfer elements. In: accordance with said Belford and Kus's' application there is provided". a tube located inside of the needle cylinder. and stationary with respect to a revolving cylinder (or rotating with respect toa stationary-cylinder), thisi tubehaving at the inside of its upper end one or more baffles having cammin'g action on the welt to effect movement ofthe fabric as it is produced'smoothly away from the needles: and their cooperating sinkers. in such. amanner that neither distorted nor unsightly stitches will be produced.

In accordance with the present invention pro vision ismade for more effectively" lowering welts away from the needles during. welt formation", this end being accomplished through the production of pulsatingair flow engaging the welts desirably remote from the point of: knitting so as to prevent any disturbance of the proper formation of stitches. Associated with the means for producing pulsating air: as just described there: is an interior tube arranged to provide a space into which the welt undergoing formation is lowered so that its motion is not impeded by the: portion of a previous stocking-which has been knit. As will become apparent hereafter the'inve'ntion is applicable not only to theknit tingof. stockings having inturned weltsin a continuous series but also-tothe knitting of separate stockings in general accordance with the: dis closure of said Scott patent.

The general objects of the invention indicated above and other objects particularly relating to details of construction and: operation will become apparent from the: following description ing in" particular a fin for aiding in taking up the welt; and

Figure 5 is aplanview of the matterillustrated in Figure 4 showing in addition a presser'of' the general type illustrated in said Scott patent.

The figures show only those elements of a rotary cylinder circular knitting machine as are required for an understanding of the invention. It will, of course, be understood that this machine contains conventional elements well known to the art and, in particular, reference may be made to said Scott patent and to said Belford and Kuss application for a more complete showing and. description of those elements particularly concerned with welt formation. As will be apparent hereafter various features of the invention are applicable to machines of the stationary cylinder-rotary cam type, but for clarity and consistency of the description there will be hereafter referred to only a machine of the rotary cylinder type.

The needle cylinder illustrated at 2 is slotted to carry needles 4 with which cooperate conventional sinkers 6. A rotary dial 8 carries transfer elements Hl of the type described in said Scott patent. Relative movements of conventional character are imparted to these various instrumentalities in conventional fashion. The dial 8 which carries the transfer elements ID is provided with a series of openings [4 which during rotation of the dial are successively brought beneath the lower end of a tube l6 projecting through the dial cap l2 and connected by a tube ill to a source of compressed air. This compressed air may be continuously flowing or may be caused to flow during only certain portions of the knitting cycle, as for example during the formation of the welt, by means which are conventional and are not herein shown. While the air is flowing the rotation of the dial 8 to bring the holes I4 successively beneath the tube l6 results in the production below the dial of intermittent puffs of air which have a take-up function hereafter described. The tube [6 is desirably located approximately opposite the point at which stitches are formed from yarn fed by one of a series of yarn fingers 20 which are subject to control by the usual plungers 22 controlled by the main cam drum of the machine. By reason of this location of the tube [6 the introduced air produces no disturbance in the uniformity of formation of the stitches, functioning solely for take-up purposes.

Located within the needle cylinder is a tube 24 which is held at its lower end by the upper end of a non-rotating cylinder of conventional type such as illustrated in the Bedford and Kuss application, which cylinder is adapted to have axial movements imparted thereto for the control of corresponding axial movements of the needle cylinder.

- The upper end 30 of the tube 24 is flared outwardly forming substantially a smooth continuation of the inner surface of the needle cylinder assembly.

Spacers 28 and screws 29 support from the tube 24 an inner sleeve or cylinder 3| arranged concentrically with the tube and provided with an upper rounded end 33 against which the fabric maymove. An annular space 35 is provided between the tubes 24 and 3| for the reception of the welt as hereafter described.

As described in said Belford and Kuss application, at the lower portion of the machine there is provided a take-up assembly indicated gen- .erally at 32 having upper and lower bearings (not shown) in the machine frame. The assembly includes a fabric receptacle indicated at 38. Drive of this assembly is effected by gearing from the vertical shaft 44 which is geared to the needle cylinder. The arrangement is such that the take-up assembly rotates in unison with the needle cylinder. A guide 50 forming part of the assembly 32 mounts a slide 52 which carries at its lower end a crosshead 54 on which are pivoted pawls 58 and 60 urged into engagement with ratchet wheels 62 and 64 by a spring Bl. A spring 56 urges the 'slide 52 upwardly. The ratchet wheels 62 and 64 are carried by the shafts of rollers 66 and 68. The rollers are urged together by a spring arrangement indicated at 12. These rollers may be surfaced in various fashions to secure proper take-up of the particular fabric being knit; for example, one of the rollers may be I covered with smooth fabric and the other with corduroy, pile fabric or the like, or one of the rollers may be cloth surfaced and the other formed of corrugated wood, or other arrangements may be used, such as a pair of metallic rollers. A detent 10 prevents reverse movement of one of the ratchets, this generally suillcing to insure maintenance of tension though, if desired, detents may be associated with both ratchets.

A cam 14 is carried by a lever 16 pivoted to the frame at 18 and adapted to be acted upon by suitable cams on the main cam drum serving to position the lever 16 and its cam 14 to secure various conditions of operation of the take-up. The operation of this type of take-up is described in detail in said Belford and Kuss application and need not be described herein.

Reference may now be made particularly to Figures 4 and 5. In the inside of the upper end of tube 24 there is secured a fin 88 extending inwardly and provided with an inner smooth edge. This edge of the fin at 90 merges horizontally and smoothly with the upper end of the tube. Its lower end at 92 also merges into the surface of the tube in smooth fashion, this merger preventing catching of the fabric on the fin during reciprocation. A presser 94 which corresponds to the presser P of said Scott patent and which may be similarly controlled, has a position such as indicated in Figure 5 above the level of the top of the tube. As an indication of the position of the fin 88 there is indicated at 96 the approximate circumferential location of the center of the sinker cam and at 98 the approximate circumferential location of the lowest point of the stitch cam. It has been found that the fin operates most effectively if it is set at an angle of approximately 42 with respect to a horizontal plane and extends inwardly from to H; inch from the inner cylindrical wall of the tube 24.

The operation of the machine may be considered starting from the beginning of formation of the welt. The previously knit stocking indicated at S in Figure l is held under tension between the take-up rolls 66 and 68 and the transfer elements l0 which hold the initial courses during the knitting of a welt. As will be observed from Figure 1 the preceding stocking passes inwardly of the rolled or rounded edge of the tube 3! leaving a space in which the welt may descend during its formation. The inward movement of the fabric forming the welt W is begun by the action of the presser 94 as there are formed the courses immediately following the holding of loops on the transfer elements 10, the presser serving to force inwardly the loop of fabric which is then being produced. Inasmuch as the previously formed stocking is held inwardly by the upper edge of the tube 3| this action is not impeded. As the knitting of the welt progresses the fin 88 serves by frictional engagement with the welt to aid in s c-4mm the? inward-and doivtrmiandl movement; off thewelt: loop. "As-:soom a-sta substantialilengtlr of; this; welt; loopiiszproducedzthe'pnffsnfizain projected through thBE.hD1GSi I .41 in: the: dial; at: the position of the tubes: Ililai'dziinforcingstheplcopz downwardly; The. blastsioff air penetrate the.-'fabr:ic: which: is: held: bctweemthe elements? lid an'di the: top; of: the cylsinderf 313 as welhas the section ofithe. welt suspendedi: below-z the: element-s:v I :0,. and: this serves "to"; effectively: move downwardly-whee fabric: hanging bclbva the. needles. llhee air .GllIIIEIltS scemitdpassr through the two layers just mentioned anctexerit. a pulsatingforce, on: this fabric suspended from the needles and the pulsations by producing movement are particularly effective in insuring the proper-downward movementof, thewel't into the annular space 35 which is, of suflicient width and depth to receive the Welt loop without impedin fits" movement. After the weltif compfleted and the-heldloop'rare transferred to: the

needles; the" take-uprolls" pull the previously formed stacking and thereby" pull; the ,wel't; out

oftlre sp ace-3d around the rolled-edge 3 3 of sleeve 3| and downwardly inside this sleeve.

It will be evident from the above that the existence of tension on the previously formed stocking does not prevent the free and proper movement of the welt W during its formation.

While the invention is particularly applicable to the formation of stockings in a continuous string, it will be evident that by the removal or" screws 29, spacers 28 and sleeve 3!, it may also be applied to the knitting of stockings having welts even though the stockings are dropped off at the completion of their individual. formations and new stockings are started on bare needles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cyl" inder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a cylinder within the needle cylidner and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt-receiving space, and take-up means for pulling knitted fabric over an upper edge of the last mentioned cylinder and downwardly therethrough.

2. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a cylinder within the needle cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt-receiving space, take-up means for pulling knitted fabric over an upper edge of the last mentioned cylinder and downwardly therethrough, and means urging a turned welt downwardly into said space.

3. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a cylinder located inside the needle cylinder, there being relative rotation between the needle cylinder and the last mentioned cylinder, a third cylinder within the second mentioned cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt-receiving space, and take-up means for pulling knitted fabric over an upper edge of the third cylinder and downwardly therethrough.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a cylinder located inside the needle cylinder, there being relative rotation between the needle cylinder and the last mentioned cylinder, a third cylinder within the; second mentioned;cylindersandz-spacedi' therefrom. to; provide: arr. annular welt-.-r.eceiving; siaacetaker-up meanss forr pulling knitted fabric: over an upper edge of the third cylinder and: downwardly t'l'ierethrough;, and; means urging: a turned: welt; downwardlyr into. said space.

. 5,: lira circular"knitting'machina,arneedle-cyl, inder;,. needles slidable in. said: cylinder; means; associaterli withsaid: needles for holding stitches.

' during, the: formation off turned: welt, acylinder:

located; inside the; needle cylinder, there; being: relative rotation" betweennthe needle cylinder and. trier-last. mentioned cylinder;v a third: cylinder wlthinzthe? second: mentioned cylinder and. spaced. therefrom: to. pr.o.,vide..- annular welt-receivin space,,,take-up meansfor: pulling: knitted; fabric: over an upper edge; of; the third.- cylinder: and downwardly.- therethrough; and meansurging; a turned: weltdownwardly into said" space, the: last; mentioned meansv com inga .fin canriedlby the: second. mentioned.v cylinder acting; to cam -the. turned;weltadownwardly;

6:. Ina circularknitting machine, aeneedle: cyls inder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a cylinder within the needle cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt-receiving space, takeup means for pulling knitted fabric over an upper edge of the last mentioned cylinder and downwardly therethrough, and means urging a turned welt downwardly into said space, the last mentioned means comprising a fin having a carnming action on the turned welt to urge it downwardly.

7. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a cylinder located inside the needle cylinder, there being relative rotation between the needle cylinder and the last mentioned cylinder, a third cylinder within the second mentioned cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt-receiving space, take-up means for pulling knitted fabric over an upper edge of the third cylinder and downwardly therethrough, and means directing air through fabric extending from said stitch holding means over the upper edge of the third cylinder to urge a turned welt into said weltrecciving space.

8. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of 2. turned welt, a cylinder located inside the needle cylinder, there being relative rotation between the needle cylinder and the last mentioned cylinder, 2. third cylinder within the second mentioned cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt-receiving space, take-up means for pulling knitted fabric over an upper edge of the third cylinder and downwardly therethrough, and means directing pulsating air through fabric extending from said stitch holding means over the upper edge of the third cylinder to urge a turned welt into said welt-receiving space.

9. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a cylinder within the needle cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt-receiving space, takeup means for pulling knitted fabric over an upper edge of the last mentioned cylinder and downwardly therethrough, and means directing air 7 through fabric extending from said stitch holding means over the upper edge of the last mentloned cylinder to urge a turned welt into said welt-receiving space.

10. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a cylinder within the needle cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt-receiving space, takeup means for pulling knitted fabric over an upper edge of the last mentioned cylinder and downwardly therethrough, and means directing pulsating air through fabric extending from said stitch holding means over the upper edge of the last mentioned cylinder to urge a turned welt into said welt-receiving space.

11. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, a member within the needle cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide an annular welt receiving space, and

8. take-up means for pulling knitted fabric over the said member and downwardly therethrough.

12. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, and a circular member within the needle cylinder and spaced therefrom to hold a previously knit stocking away from the inside of the needle cylinder and to provide an annular welt receiving space between said circular member and the needle cylinder.

ALBERT X. DESMONDS. 

